Jacko,
I thought Sailor Malan was a 74 Sqn chap? ISTR that some of the sqn's Hunters had his signature on them at one stage.
249 is said to have been the most successful sqn of WW2, since it had an awful lot of opportunities over Malta; 92 had fewer when it was in Italy.
The Air Staff agreed that past record shouldn't be used for sustaining a number plate in the 1968 review of numberplates - although 120 and 617 appear to contradict this rule, they're regarded as extra-special cases because of the award of their standards in recognition of their achievements, a distinction not granted to any other unit.